I just finished scripting my first OGN...

[Nick Spencer]

WHEW.

Ready for this?

296 pages!

Jesus.

Not schilling really, since I haven't even found an artist yet, so we're a looooong way from anything happening.

But yeah, it is finished, which is kind of a nice feeling. Here's the pitch:

Virginia Cornwell is the rebellious and disillusioned sixteen year old daughter of a Conservative Republican US Senator facing a tight re-election battle in the great state of, you guessed it, Virginia. One night she sneaks out to a party, makes a drunken mistake, and winds up pregnant. Once the news gets out, her father’s campaign decides to try to turn this embarrassing negative into a positive– by making Virginia the poster girl for remaining pro-life despite an unplanned pregnancy. Which is all well and good for her dad’s campaign… but there’s one little problem for our heroine: it turns out there’s a very good chance that the baby she’s carrying around in her just happens to be the Anti-Christ. Yeah, sucks to be her. Its JUNO meets ROSEMARY'S BABY meets WAG THE DOG.

[Ashwin Pande]

I like the concept.. I'd change the title.

I'd avoid the word Fetus in the title. See if you can come up with something more subtle.

[LenNWallace]

Sounds decent. Just be ready to do a shit ton of editing. When I first wrote Love Buzz, it weighed in at close to 300 pages, too. I've since ramped down the final draft to 180. Trust me, it helps to keep a story more consise, unless it's some Alan Moore shit. Especially if you're going to self-publish it.

[Nick Spencer]

I like the concept.. I'd change the title.

I'd avoid the word Fetus in the title. See if you can come up with something more subtle.

Really? I thought it'd be kind of a fun play on Rosemary's Baby. But maybe you're right, I have a history of picking bad titles, so who knows?

[Ashwin Pande]

Also I wouldn't paste my pitch here. There's a lot more people who read these threads than the actual posters who you know and trust...

[NeverWanderer]

That's awesome, man! Congratulations.

I know I've said this elsewhere many times, but I've found some really good artists on comicspace.com. It's worth a look if you're not already on there. That site has been very good to me in a very short amount of time.

[Nick Spencer]

Also I wouldn't paste my pitch here. There's a lot more people who read these threads than the actual posters who you know and trust...

I am always VERY ambivalent about this, and maybe it will get me ripped off someday, who knows? I guess I always feel like my strength is characters and dialogue, so I feel like even if someone stole my concept, it really wouldn't be the same book at all.

[Nick Spencer]

That's awesome, man! Congratulations.

I know I've said this elsewhere many times, but I've found some really good artists on comicspace.com. It's worth a look if you're not already on there. That site has been very good to me in a very short amount of time.

Always do. I've already approached someone who'd be perfect via ComicSpace, so we'll see.

[BCD]

Really? I thought it'd be kind of a fun play on Rosemary's Baby. But maybe you're right, I have a history of picking bad titles, so who knows?

I'm really not digging that title. Sounds a bit like trying too hard to be "edgy" instead of genuine wit.

[Brad N.]

Congrats, man!

[Ashwin Pande]

I am always VERY ambivalent about this, and maybe it will get me ripped off someday, who knows? I guess I always feel like my strength is characters and dialogue, so I feel like even if someone stole my concept, it really wouldn't be the same book at all.

That's a good attitude to have. I'm a generally paranoid fella about anything but get extra paranoid about this kind of thing.

As far as the title goes I think it'd work better if you were subtle about it rather than putting the word Fetus in there. It's an off-putting word and it's a word that doesn't roll off the tongue. It causes a break in pronunciation and doesn't sound good. Think if the movie had been called Rosemary's Fetus...

[Genius J]

I agree with those who said it needs a title change.

[Nick Spencer]

Heh. The people have spoken! Title change it'll be then. Any ideas? Maybe just Virginia's Baby? I really did like the Rosemary reference.

[Ashwin Pande]

Heh. The people have spoken! Title change it'll be then. Any ideas? Maybe just Virginia's Baby? I really did like the Rosemary reference.

I think you need to have the title say it's a reference to Pro-Life, Politics and the Anti-Christ.

Hmmm.. a play on the word Womb?

[Movie Maker]

I think you need to have the title say it's a reference to Pro-Life, Politics and the Anti-Christ.

Hmmm.. a play on the word Womb?

Womb Raider? heh. No. What was the original title? What about Anti-Life?...hm.

[Nick Spencer]

Womb Raider? heh. No. What was the original title? What about Anti-Life?...hm.

The original titles was Virginia's Fetus.

I removed it cause people seemed to hate it, and I don't wanna poison people's opinion of the story pitch if it is indeed a shitty title.

[Nick Spencer]

That's a good attitude to have. I'm a generally paranoid fella about anything but get extra paranoid about this kind of thing.

As far as the title goes I think it'd work better if you were subtle about it rather than putting the word Fetus in there. It's an off-putting word and it's a word that doesn't roll off the tongue. It causes a break in pronunciation and doesn't sound good. Think if the movie had been called Rosemary's Fetus...

Its funny you say that because there's a big conversation in the book about the word, because Virginia keeps referring to it as a fetus, and the campaign insists she call it a baby. We talk about the word and the distinction between the two, etc.

[NeverWanderer]

How about Virginia's Choice?

[Movie Maker]

The original titles was Virginia's Fetus.

I removed it cause people seemed to hate it, and I don't wanna poison people's opinion of the story pitch if it is indeed a shitty title.

I love it for the bluntness of it.

[Movie Maker]

How about Virginia's Choice?

that has a ring.

[Nick Spencer]

How about Virginia's Choice?

I like that, too. Maybe so, maybe so...

[NeverWanderer]

I like that, too. Maybe so, maybe so...

Woo!! :rock:

[Ashwin Pande]

Its funny you say that because there's a big conversation in the book about the word, because Virginia keeps referring to it as a fetus, and the campaign insists she call it a baby. We talk about the word and the distinction between the two, etc.

Hmm. You could justify that title with a scene like that. If you do decide to keep the original title then maybe work that somehow into the pitch.

[JHickman]

You should call it:

Death Fetus - Election Hell

or

Suck Up, Buck Up... oh Hell, She's Knocked Up
(which is a play on James Carville's political how-to book)

or

God Devil Baby

or

I'm having Bill Clinton's Baby
(because you obviously could mke that an in-joke...)

Okay, you owe me for 3 minutes of mediocre titles. Or not ;-)

[Ashwin Pande]

You should call it:

Death Fetus - Election Hell

I love that title and wish someone would make a movie with that title just so I can hear the movie trailer guy say those words in his voice.

[Nick Spencer]

You should call it:

Death Fetus - Election Hell

or

Suck Up, Buck Up... oh Hell, She's Knocked Up
(which is a play on James Carville's political how-to book)

or

God Devil Baby

or

I'm having Bill Clinton's Baby
(because you obviously could mke that an in-joke...)

Okay, you owe me for 3 minutes of mediocre titles. Or not ;-)

These are all brilliant. Death Fetus-Election Hell sounds like a trailer in GRINDHOUSE.

Why must you be so much more talented than I am, Hickman? Why?!!!

:D

[NeverWanderer]

Its funny you say that because there's a big conversation in the book about the word, because Virginia keeps referring to it as a fetus, and the campaign insists she call it a baby. We talk about the word and the distinction between the two, etc.

Would American Fetus be too close to that Vertigo book...? :)

[JHickman]

These are all brilliant. Death Fetus-Election Hell sounds like a trailer in GRINDHOUSE.

Why must you be so much more talented than I am, Hickman? Why?!!!

:D

Words seem to be working today... tomorrow I'm probably fucked.

[Nick Spencer]

Would American Fetus be too close to that Vertigo book...? :)

Heh. I wonder. Not bad, though.

[Fygar]

I like the idea, I think there's a lot of potential there.

Put me down for not liking the original title as well, it's too on the nose.

I think something simple like Choice/ Choices would be all right since it can pertain to the baby/ the election/ issues etc. Then again "Choices" sounds sort of Soap Opera-y or like a high school class about drugs.

Maybe something with the word decision?

[Nick Spencer]

Partial Birth Antichrist?

Heh. I think I'm beginning to realize why I wasn't a marketing major.

[Ashwin Pande]

Abort-O-Rama

Womb Of Doom

Gestating Satan

Virginia's Virginity, Gone!

Birthing Evil

Aborted Choices

Pro-Anti-Life

Rally 'round Virgina

Fetus Fuck Fest

Fetus Fetus Fetus!

[NeverWanderer]

Out of curiosity, how long have you been working on this story? Both from conception and from the moment you sat down and started writing, how long did this take you?

[Nick Spencer]

Out of curiosity, how long have you been working on this story? Both from conception and from the moment you sat down and started writing, how long did this take you?

It took about 6 months, concept to completion.

I had the idea in the early summer. It was kind of an odd offshoot of a different idea. The 'antichrist' idea is always so cool to me, this is like my third idea involving it. I have this other story called Manifest Destiny out there, which is sort of a darker, Vertigo-style comic dealing with the antichrist pre-30. I liked the idea that he might be like Christ in that he may not be aware/at terms with his destiny before that age. It would also deal with the idea of God 'tempting' the antichrist in the same fashion Satan tempted Christ.

So, I've had that concept in the brain for years, and it got me thinking about what the mother of the antichrist would be like, and what a burden that would be. It occurred to me she might try to abort the pregnancy. That got me thinking about the thing you always hear from pro life groups, about how we might be aborting the person that cures cancer for whatever. But they never mention there's an equal likelihood we're aborting a serial killer or whatever.

From there, it all kinda fell into place. I knew once politics got into it that I'd want to make it more humorous.

I find an OGN to be a much easier writing process than a 22 page comic, personally. You set your own beats instead of having them forced upon you. That's not to say pacing isn't a concern anymore, it always is, but this was definitely a lot less restrictive. It was also fun to tell a single narrative-- with everything else I write, there's always an open-ended, serialized element to it.

I did most of the writing in about 4 months, but that's on top of 4 issues of MIKE DIAMOND, two issues of DREAMGIRL, 60 pages for my Zuda pitch, and a bunch of plotting-work on other stuff. Point is, it didn't take much time at all. Writing MIKE DIAMOND is much, much harder. With that book, if I can squeeze out 3 pages a day, its a miracle-- because I want every issue to be its own story, so the narrative has to be super-tight.

[Sam Little]

Sounds cool, man. Congrats!

I respectfully submit as a title:

The State of Virginia

[Nick Spencer]

Fetus Fuck Fest


Really now, how am I supposed to say no to that?

[Uther]

I love the pitch, man.

Have you seen Alexander Payne's Citizen Ruth? Because the pregnancy used as political statement by others thing is similar to the plot of Ruth. Similar in a slightly inspired by way not a theft way, of course.

[Shwicaz]

Sounds cool, man. Congrats!

I respectfully submit as a title:

The State of Virginia


or, The State of Vagina!

:lol:

[Uther]

My title idea - stolen straight from the Virginia.gov website - Virginia is for lovers.

Though no one can really beat The State of Virginia. That is a golden title from Sam, right there.

[Ashwin Pande]

Yeah I'll third The State Of Virginia

Great title.

[Nick Spencer]

My title idea - stolen straight from the Virginia.gov website - Virginia is for lovers.

Though no one can really beat The State of Virginia. That is a golden title from Sam, right there.

By way of the popular vote, I think we're going with The State of Virginia! I guess that would help orders, too-- not being so offensive and all.

And no, I never saw Citizen Ruth, though I vaguely remember the cover box from my old job at a video store ages ago (the fact that it was on the new release wall should tell just how many ages ago).

Maybe I can get the artist to draw her in that "Virginia is for Lovers" t-shirt with the pregnant belly. That'd be hilarious.

[Ashwin Pande]

You gotta name the sequel Fetus Fuck Fest though!

[Nick Spencer]

You gotta name the sequel Fetus Fuck Fest though!

All I can say is, that will get used somewhere, someday... somehow.

[Ashwin Pande]

All I can say is, that will get used somewhere, someday... somehow.

GLEE!

[Nick Spencer]

BTW, Sam, I'll make sure to get you a credit if the thing sees publication. Which, you know is a looooooong way off.

[Sam Little]

By way of the popular vote, I think we're going with The State of Virginia! I guess that would help orders, too-- not being so offensive and all.

And no, I never saw Citizen Ruth, though I vaguely remember the cover box from my old job at a video store ages ago (the fact that it was on the new release wall should tell just how many ages ago).

Maybe I can get the artist to draw her in that "Virginia is for Lovers" t-shirt with the pregnant belly. That'd be hilarious.

Cool! Glad you liked the title.

I must agree with Uther and highly recommend renting Citizen Ruth, too. Hilarious stuff. The director went on to do Election, About Schmidt and Sideways.

[James Patrick]

just call it Virginia.

[Nick Spencer]

just call it Virginia.

I think people will begin to resent me if I just keeping naming my books after the protagonists.

Okay... people probably won't care or notice, but you know... I will.

[nick maynard]

have you read chosen by millar? if not, you might want to give it a read through to make sure you aren't hitting the same beats.

sounds cool though man. it's very funny to me, because it was a great idea, that you added the anti-christ to! so it must be an even better idea now because everything's better with the anti christ!

[Nick Spencer]

have you read chosen by millar? if not, you might want to give it a read through to make sure you aren't hitting the same beats.

sounds cool though man. it's very funny to me, because it was a great idea, that you added the anti-christ to! so it must be an even better idea now because everything's better with the anti christ!

That's what I said!

And yeah, I read and loved Chosen, but its definitely a pretty different story.

[nick maynard]

That's what I said!

And yeah, I read and loved Chosen, but its definitely a pretty different story.

sounds like it, but i thought youd appreciate the heads up if you hadnt read it.

[Supajoe]

sounds pretty cool. though, reading your page count made my drawing hand hurt. haha! i've never drawn anything over a hundred pages for a project.

good luck!

[Jef UK]

Why comics for this project and not, say, prose? Just curious.

[Nick Spencer]

Why comics for this project and not, say, prose? Just curious.

I have learned the hard way that I am a visual writer. Comics and Screenplays I can do-- they come easy to me (well, as much as they can). I get an idea for a novel, and I try desperately to make it work, then I give up and move it over to another medium. I have an enormous amount of respect for prose writers-- its a skill I certainly have yet to master.

Now to be totally honest, I probably COULD have done this one as a screenplay and been happy with it. But the reality of selling a screenplay is hard enough. A screenplay about Red State Politicians and Pro-Lifers helping ensure the arrival of the antichrist?

Yeah, probably not the easiest pitch to make. Which is one reason why comics will always be the BEST medium-- practically no censorship and insane amounts of creative freedom.

And I always prefer the tools of comic writing: narrative captions, slowed down visuals, etc. I just feel most comfortable working in it.

[NeverWanderer]

Damn, man. You're going places. :) And I don't just mean New York.

[Nick Spencer]

Damn, man. You're going places. :) And I don't just mean New York.

Awww... thanks. We'll see. I honestly have no idea, but I hope you're right.

I think there are a lot of other much better writers trying to break in to the industry. The one thing I think I have going for me is I write, write, and write every day. The hardest moment for every writer I think is opening up your word processor. Hell, Brian was just saying it on the Tapes yesterday, that part about "people will always find an excuse not to do their work."

That and I promote. Anytime I write something, I'm out talking about it, trying to get people interested.

So, hey, fingers crossed, and thanks for saying that.

[DanLTaylor]

I am always VERY ambivalent about this, and maybe it will get me ripped off someday, who knows? I guess I always feel like my strength is characters and dialogue, so I feel like even if someone stole my concept, it really wouldn't be the same book at all.
While one shouldn't throw around every idea or concept at the drop of a hat I do think people worry too much about being "ripped off." I think nwspencer is safe with this and thank him for sharing. I look forward to hearing more about it.

That is a lot of pages. And I do agree that you'll probably be doing some editing -- which can be like giving up one of your children.

[Nick Spencer]

While one shouldn't throw around every idea or concept at the drop of a hat I do think people worry too much about being "ripped off." I think nwspencer is safe with this and thank him for sharing. I look forward to hearing more about it.

That is a lot of pages. And I do agree that you'll probably be doing some editing -- which can be like giving up one of your children.

Well, if it was too much of a ripoff, I'd probably just point back to this thread and embarrass whoever did it and hope their sales suffered.

And yeah, there'll be some editing. I'd like to get it as close to 200 pages as I can. I was just astonished at what the final page count ended up being. There are so many long conversations in the book, it doesn't feel long when you're writing it, if that makes sense.

But yeah, no artist is gonna do 296 pages. That'd just be crazy.

[Uther]

Maybe I can get the artist to draw her in that "Virginia is for Lovers" t-shirt with the pregnant belly. That'd be hilarious.

Then...

I DEMAND A CO-WRITER CREDIT YOU THIEF!

(not really ;))

[Uther]

But yeah, no artist is gonna do 296 pages. That'd just be crazy.

Couldn't you, if cutting pages did - in fact - turn out to be worse than cutting limbs and destroyed the whole story, get two artists? One to do the political stuff and one to do the devil stuff?

Disclaimer - This is me just thinking aloud and is probably totally, egregiously wrong.

[GrandeMaestro Fünke]

Sounds interesting, keep us updated. Also I like Hickman's title suggestions the best so far.